American Idiot, Lyceum
Ten years in, the Green Day musical remains a punk rock riot.
The iconic concept album turned stage production has spanned the globe, focusing on the Bush administration and set during the fallout of 9/11. Now a worldwide phenomenon, American Idiot aims to move past its pop-punk soundtrack and serve as an insight into another generation experiencing class struggle and social disenfranchisement.
Built on some superb reinventions of Green Day's back catalogue, American Idiot doesn't rely on the tracklist of the album to be the backbone of the play, but instead includes many of the band's songs to tell the story.
Racky Plews' choreography, combined with Sara Perks' set and design, creates a superb aesthetic, ranging from stereotypical anarchist attire to dancing neon druids and post-apocalyptic cheerleaders with grenade pom-poms.
But this masks a certain lack of depth in the play's main characters. We're not told why we are following them, what they hope to achieve or why we should invest in them. Corny dialogue is taken at face value, as a tongue-in-cheek caricature of the angsty rebellious teen.
Most of this is excused by the tight live band and the impressive vocal delivery of the cast. Former X Factor contestant Luke Friend embodies the devilish alter ego of our protagonist James as St Jimmy. Packing a raspy rock tone and brimming with charisma, he portrays the role akin to Brad Pitt in Fight Club, a dark and charismatic embodiment of our protagonist's suffering.
American Idiot still resonates as an age-old tale of soul searching and rebellion with a soundtrack about a lost generation.
American Idiot runs at the Lyceum until 30 March. Tickets via sheffieldtheatres.co.uk.
